Managing stress is therefore key to a successful weight loss program. This is easier said than done. Most of us have automatic triggers and responses that happen without us even knowing why. Something happens and we immediately react. The brain senses a danger and sends out an automatic fight, flight or flee response. We are often not even aware it's happening. It just does and it seeks a solution for us to feel better. Memory leads us to reach out for something that makes us feel better – the need for a quick fix. This frequently leads us to food which is readily available, and often to less than ideal food choices.

The result? We experience the immediate ‘feel better.” The emergency is over. The brain has done its work in saving us from triggers. The downside is that our choices are often not as healthy as they could be and undo all the hard work of changing to healthier eating patterns. The interesting thing is this all happens in a nanosecond and in terms of weight loss leads to an immediate feeling of guilt. This pattern leads to increased cortisol – aka the fat storage hormone – and has an overall negative impact on our physiology. This cycle undermines our weight loss goals, negatively impacts our emotional well-being, erodes our relationship with food, can, longer term lead to negative health consequences, and undermines our sense of self-control and empowerment.

The good news is that we can break the cycle and the energy drains by tapping into the power of the heart.

Reach out to coach Deborah to learn how.